Minutes:
Chief Inspector Craig Knight stated that he wanted to have a conversation with the Board concerning the issue of how crimes were dealt with and classified. This was something that the police had been working on with MOPAC. The Chief Inspector referred to the concept of ‘High Harm Crimes’. He briefed the Board on something known as the ‘ Cambridge Crime Harm Index’ which had been invented by a professor at Cambridge University. This was an index that was now being used globally to measure the harm caused by crime as opposed to the volume of crime. In other words, which crimes caused the most harm? Which crimes resulted in the most time spent in prison?
The Chief Inspector suggested that this would be a more appropriate way to prioritise crimes and meaningful conversations regarding this should be had with community groups. He wanted to initiate a different set of conversations-- on what really mattered in terms of crime and in terms of harm caused. This would help to determine the allocation of limited resources.
The Chief Inspector stated that using the Index would enable a cost benefit analysis with respect to crime, harm and cost to be carried out. A discussion took place about problem solving and what tactics were the most effective. The Chief Inspector stated that what he had learnt recently about how to police effectively and strategically was that there were three key elements to this:
Targeting—where should resources be allocated?
Testing—what are we going to do with the resources when they are allocated?
Tracking—what is it that we are asking them to do, and how do we know if they are successful?
Collectively, what was required was that the Board determined a strategy so that problem solving could be undertaken in an effective and efficient manner.
The Head of Trading Standards and Commercial Regulation agreed with the value of assessing the wider impact of crime on victims and it was true that money could be saved through early intervention by all relevant services. It was pointed out that when assessing the impact and cost of harm, it was also important to consider the impact of high harm crimes on victim’s children and the cost of them going into care/foster homes if this was required.
A discussion took place around strategic objectives, priorities, assets, resources and funding based on the Borough’s needs.
The Assistant Director commented that there may be a fear for some partners that the people they were accountable to may have a great want or need for responses in a certain way. To avoid confusion and to aid with clarity of purpose, she requested that Chief Inspector Knight draft a briefing document for the attention of the Board, outlining in a clear and concise fashion his thinking with regard to these matters going forward.
The Chief Inspector made it clear that 999 calls would not be affected. He explained that if his beat officers attended a local ward meeting, they could ask attendees what it was they felt that the police should give the most attention to in that particular ward. However, it would also need to be explained that if the police put their resources into that specific issue, then it would mean that there may be no resources (or limited resources) left over to deal with other issues.
The point was made that it may not be simply a matter of resources in terms of funding and budgets. Another matter to consider was that services may already exist that were being under used, and it would be important to identify and tap into these under utilised services. Chief Inspector Knight agreed with this and he stated that he had so far identified 2514 third sector organisations in Croydon and this was something that would require mapping.
Councillor David Cartwright expressed serious concerns about the proposals and ask that this matter be brought to and discussed at the Public Protection and Enforcement PDS Committee. He said that it was important that the right message was delivered. He expressed the view that as far as Bromley was concerned, residents were not primarily concerned with what would be regarded as ‘high harm’ crimes, as this was not as big a problem in Bromley as in other boroughs. He expressed the view that residents would be more concerned with volume crimes connected with ASB. He expressed concern that if the ASB was not dealt with it could increase exponentially, possibly even leading to civil unrest.
Councillor Cartwright echoed the sentiments of the Assistant Director and said that the proposal that Mr Knight should bring a suggestions and options paper for the attention of the Board was a very good idea. It was resolved that the paper would be drafted in time for the next meeting of the Safer Bromley Partnership and for the Public Protection and Enforcement PDS Committee to scrutinise, after which the Portfolio Holder could make a decision regarding any proposals if required.
Chief Inspector Knight reassured the Board that his proposals did not mean the police would stop dealing with those matters which the public considered the most important. The Board discussed the matter of harm caused by dangerous driving and it was noted that one police area had used the Cambridge Crime Index to justify the re-introduction of road policing.
RESOLVED that Chief Inspector Craig Knight should draft a briefing paper concerning his policing proposals based on the Cambridge Crime Harm Index. This paper should be ready for the meetings of the Safer Bromley Partnership and for scrutiny by the Public Protection and Enforcement Committee in September.